The six-times World Champion made his debut at the Sheffield venue in 1979, and will have played in the televised stages of snooker's most famous event in five different decades when he steps into the arena next month.
One of the sport's all-time greats, Davis by far the oldest player on the professional circuit at 52, but showed that he is still capable of a high standard of play with an excellent performance against Telford's World No 42 Gunnell.
A top break of 88 helped him to a 6-3 lead in the first session. Runs of 60 and 64 put him 8-3 up, and although Gunnell pulled one back with a 60, there was to be no fight back as Davis rolled in a 96 for 9-4 and sealed victory in frame 14.
"I felt like a player today and I got myself up for it," said Davis. "Adrian said it was the best he'd seen me play for a couple of years, and I'd have to agree with that. Every trip to the Crucible is special, especially for me at this stage in my career.
"I changed my grip to one Alex Higgins used to use and I felt solid on the shot. I went out there to fight my snooker heart out. If I can keep playing like that, then who knows? My arm wasn't inhibited, it was a joy.
"There was a time in the 1980s when I thought I was unbeatable, I didn't think anyone would ever be able to raise the standard. Then a young man from Scotland (Stephen Hendry) rammed that down my throat. My objective is to play at the Crucible at a greater age than Stephen will ever do, and I've extended that by one extra year now."
Liang Wenbo, who reached the quarter-finals at the Crucible on his 2008 debut and lost to Ding Junhui in the first round last year, earned his third consecutive appearance with an emphatic 10-2 defeat of Rod Lawler.
The Chinese ace, runner-up in the Roewe Shanghai Masters earlier this season, boosted his hopes of gaining a top 16 place for next season as he fired in breaks of 88, 52, 97, 86 and 63.
"It was sometimes good, sometimes bad," said the 23-year-old, who is based at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield. "I'd lost my matches in the Welsh and China Open and this is a big tournament with big pressure. It was very important. It's 90 per cent now that I will get into the top 16. I would prefer not to play another Chinese player at the Crucible."
Dublin's Fergal O'Brien won eight consecutive frames in a 10-4 defeat of former Crucible semi-finalist Alan McManus. After finishing the first session 5-4 ahead, O'Brien rattled through the next five frames with top runs of 62, 56, 59 and 55.
Summing up just how much the final qualifying round means, the former British Open champion said: "I love the game, but this match is a horrible experience. By a mile, it's the most important match of the season. If you lost the World final, you'd get over it. If you lose the qualifier, you just about get over it, then it comes on the TV to haunt you.
"If you lose, you're wanting to pack the game in, and if you win you think you could go all the way. The difference is monumental, and there's also the ranking points on top of that.
"In the hotel you can feel the worry among the players, there's almost a stench of death. Whoever can relax and just play snooker will come through it."
Mark Davis of Hastings won his battle against Dave Harold by a 10-7 scoreline to keep the best season of his career going.
Leading 6-3 after the first session, Davis extended his lead to 9-5 with breaks of 73 and 66. Harold recovered to 9-7 before Davis won a scrappy 17th frame by potting brown, blue and pink.
"I'm just relieved because I should have won 10-5, and by the end I had nothing left, I was shattered," said Davis, who now looks likely to gain a place in the top 32 for the first time in his career.
"I've been working on certain parts of my game and also on my fitness, which has helped. The Crucible is where you want to finish your season and I'll be going there to enjoy it."
Matthew Stevens, Crucible runner-up in 2000 and 2005, missed out for the second consecutive year as he lost a gruelling nine-hour match 10-9 to Marcus Campbell.
Dumbarton's Campbell ground his way back from 6-4 down to 6-6, and there was never more than one frame in it in the closing stages. Welshman Stevens, who had to stop the match twice to treat a nose bleed, make a 73 to go 8-7 up and a 76 to get to 9-9.
Both players had chances in the decider, Campbell making a vital break of 38 and eventually sealing victory on the blue.
"From 6-4 down I didn't miss a long ball," said the Scot, who last played at the Crucible in 2001. "Matthew wasn't at his best but he is still a quality player.
"I've been putting a lot of work in and playing with John Higgins, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott. If you have got any ability, it will come out. I'm probably a better player now than I've ever been."
